Description

Most catfolk, or Felinae Shivan, are tribal hunter-gatherers who dwell in harmony with nature, though some tribes have acclimated well to urban environments. As a general rule, catfolk are loyal, generous, and amiable. They like belonging to and being at harmony with a group whose members work together to accomplish their needs and wants. Felinae is the collective name for the smaller, more nimble races that make up the Shivan, including the cougar, cheetah, lynx and ocelot shivan.

Felinae, unlike the panterine, are much more likely to leave Shivan society and move into the lands of humans or elves. The name "catfolk" comes from the simple description these peoples gave to the felinae.

Physical Description

Catfolk are smaller than Panterine shivan, standing around five feet tall and only weighing about 120 pounds. Catfolk are slender and graceful, covered head to toe in fine, soft fur. Their coloration varies wildly from individual to individual, and can be white, yellow, orange, brown, black, grey or tan and many have spots or patches of differing colors, giving each individual unique markings. Catfolk usually have a long, graceful tail that swishes behind them, though some family lines have no tails at all.

Society

Personal growth is part of catfolk culture, as is expression as a means of personal exploration. Catfolk have few taboos, and often exhibit harmless but strange eccentricities. Individuals cultivate a wide range of pursuits and self-expression, taking risks others might label unwise. Most individual catfolk like to be the center of attention, but not at the cost of group cohesion.

Like all shivan, however, catfolk recognize their place in their caste and make few attempts to subvert it. They are born to be felinae, and they will die felinae, and few would care to have it different.

Relations

Catfolk are friendly and amiable with nearly everyone - most of the time. Catfolk can be somewhat capricious and flaky, suddenly spurning a close companion for no discernible reason. Catfolk comprise the lower castes of Shivan culture and only the most foolhardy refuse to obey the upper castes. This behavior sometimes presents itself in other non-Shivan cultures, especially if the particular catfolk is from a very low caste.

Alignment

Generous and free-spirited, catfolk harbor little ill will against anyone and strive actively to help any group of which they are a part. With the exception of their own caste, they tend to ignore rules they don't like and otherwise forge their own paths. The vast majority of catfolk are chaotic good.

Adventurers

Most catfolk adventurers leave home with the full blessing of their family and clan. They leave to seek excitement and adventure, to explore new places and experience new things, to grow and mature. On occasion, a one will be expelled from shivan society and leave to seek a new place to find acceptance.

Catfolk Racial Traits

+2 Dexterity, –2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma: Catfolk are agile and amiable, but they are known for their lack of common sense and self-control.

Low-Light Vision: In dim light, catfolk can see twice as far as humans.

Cat's Luck: Once per day when a catfolk makes a Reflex saving throw, it can roll the saving throw twice and take the better result. It must decide to use this ability before the saving throw is attempted.

Sprinter: A catfolk gains a 10-foot racial bonus to its speed when using the charge, run, or withdraw actions.